Possible to copy complete software to new HDD?

[DirtBikeRidr]

I want to reformat my drive because i feel there are some virus', but I don't want to deal with virus scans as a have Norton and it says I have no virus.'

My question:
Is it possible to backup complete software's to an external, reformat internal, and then copy it back over? If so, what the most cost effective way of doing so.

Thanks.